“Bad habits are easily formed, but not so easily broken. Are we yielding to our evil habits, thinking they are only trifles after all, and we will get rid of them in the grave? Do we expect that our bodies will be cleansed in the grave, and we shall come forth with perfect and sanctified bodies in the resurrection? There are some among us who teach such things and excuse themselves for their practices, saying that they will be cleansed in the grave. Alma taught a very different doctrine. He said to Corianton: ‘Do not suppose … that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness … the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner’ (Alma 41:10, 15)” (Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 121).
Donald W. Parry, a Latter-day Saint scholar, identified a Hebrew parallelistic structure in Alma 41:13–15 that focuses on “mercy”:
“ a Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren;
b deal justly,
c judge righteously,
d and do good continually;
e and if ye do all these things
f then shall ye receive your reward;
a yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again;
b ye shall have justice restored unto you again;
c ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again;
d and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
e For that which ye do send out
f shall return unto you again, and be restored; (extended alternate)”
(The Book of Mormon Text Reformatted according to Parallelistic Patterns, 291–92).